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Monday 19 November 2012

Winter/Spring 2013 Courses at FVWS


Winter/Spring 2013 Courses:

To register for a class contact our director, David Blinkhorn via e-mail at fvwschool@gmail.com

A.     Ed Griffin’s Two Week Classes:

The Fraser Valley Writers’ School is pleased to offer a collection of two week classes taught by the Surrey writing master, Ed Griffin.

Each class is at the Phoenix Centre located at 13686 94A Avenue.

Individual classes are $40. Sign up for two and you pay $75. Get three and you pay $99. All classes are on Mondays from 10 to Noon.

The class descriptions and specific dates are:

The Hero’s Journey
Learn techniques used by the ancient Greeks and modern Hollywood producers to create exciting stories. Take your hero or heroine on an adventure. The map is already there, developed by the work of Joseph Campbell. In this workshop you will learn the theory, but then apply it to your story.

Monday, January 14 and 21, 2013
The Archetypes:

Learn about the archetypes: the shape-shifter, the trickster, the shadow, the herald, the mentor, the threshold guardian and the hero and how to use them in your story. The class will cover other archetypes and their value in storytelling.

Monday, January 28 and February 4, 2013
Writing with Style

Review the rules of style, the finer points of style, and the use of figures of speech. Work together with others to examine your style and improve it.

Monday, February 11 and 18, 2013

Character Development


The most important thing for a writer to learn is character development. We all remember famous characters from movies and books. Learn the techniques, learn how to bring life to your characters and take them through the character arc. Bring your characters to class (at least the stories they’re in.)

Monday, February 25 and March 4, 2013
Slam Poetry

Tired of the rules with poetry? Try slam poetry, which is half poetry and half performance. Surprise yourself. Let yourself go. We’ll go over the idea of slam poetry in the first class and then in the second class, we’ll have our own ‘Slam Poetry Night (actually Morning)
Monday, April 8 and 15, 2013

Point of View

No subject in writing has more big words associated with it than point of view. Ignore the big words and see the amazing opportunities this subject can bring to you. Play with some un-thought-of perspectives.
Monday, April 22 and 29, 2013

Traditional Publishing/Self –publishing:

With the rise of E-books, the world of publishing is changing radically. It’s a great age to be a writer. With an E-book, there are no middlemen in the world of writing– it’s just you and the reader. Should you try the traditional market first or go right to an E-book? Come, learn, and develop your ‘business plan.


Monday, May 6 and 13, 2013
Writing Greeting Cards

Here’s a way to make some money and improve your writing style. Find out what greeting card companies are looking for. Practice in class with the help of your instructor and classmates and then – send your ten best to a company and see what happens.
Monday, May 27 and June 13, 2013

B.     Other courses offered by FVWS:

Introduction to Creative Writing: The Creative Process

Have you ever wanted to unlock your creativity? Uncover ways to unleash your imagination or find your path to your own great storytelling? This eight week course looks at techniques and tools to help you find your storytelling passion and silence the forces in your life that stop you from writing your novel, short story, poetry, magazine article, or play while providing an introduction to plot, characterization, setting, and dialogue.

 This course meets the requirements for the Intro course for your certificate.

Cost:$170

Instructor: David Blinkhorn
Time and dates: 8 Wednesdays 6:30 – 8:30 pm, April 3 – May 15, 2013
Place:  Mel Edwards Center, Centennial Park, White Rock

 
The Writer’s Toolbox: Part Two: I Need a Bigger Toolbox

 Every writer always needs more tools for a bigger toolbox. Join your fellow writers for the most adventurous offering to date by the school. This ten week course examines ways to create subtlety, suspense, and tension in your work. Take an in-depth look at characterization issues like credibility, purpose, complexity and presentation methods. Learn to work effectively with back story, flashbacks, revelations and subtext.

As part of this course, each student will receive an hour long one on one meeting with the instructor to discuss issues specific to that student’s writing. Students will be expected to work on a writing project for the duration of the course with an eye to polishing for submission. Please note the schedule for this course as there are breaks for writing and one on one meetings.

Cost: $250

Instructor: David Blinkhorn
Dates and times: 10 Wednesdays, 10:00 am – noon, January 16, 23, February 13, 20, 27, March 6, 13, and April 3, 10, and 17
Place: Mel Edwards Centre, Centennial Park, White Rock

 
A Poetry Tool Box: An Exploration of Devices and Forms

Try your hand at various forms of poetry. Experiment with new poetic devices that will bring life to your images. This six week course will strengthen your work through weekly critiquing in a safe and supportive climate. Exercises and weekly challenges will lead you to create new work. Feedback from group members will help you sharpen your work and provide a tune-up for all the tools you've developed for your writing arsenal. There will be an opportunity to do a reading on February 27, 2013 at the North Delta Writers’ Reading series.

Cost: $145.00

Instructor: Heidi Greco
Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Dates: Mondays, January 28 – March 4, 2013
Place: Mel Edwards Center, Centennial Park, White Rock

 Short Story Seminar
This six week class will examine the differences between the short story and the novel, the character arc for the short story, point of view and other issues in creative writing as they relate to short stories. Students will learn what this medium can and cannot do for the writer and reader. The class will be taught through lecture, discussion, writing exercises, and critiquing. Students will be expected to write each week and analyse one classic short story between classes. Students will be working on their own short story throughout this course with an eye to polishing for publication.

Cost: $135.00

Instructor: David Blinkhorn
Dates and times: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm Wednesdays, January 23 – March 6, 2013 (no class February 27, 2013 for project preparation)
Place: Mel Edwards Centre

C.    Manuscript, Novels, and Short Stories

 
Manuscript Workshop:

Work with one of the school’s instructors one on one with your manuscript. This class includes one 30 minute introductory meeting where you’ll discuss your work with your instructor and four 60 minute sessions where you will discuss one on one your pages that you’ve submitted for review. Contact us at fvwschool@gmail.com for more info. Cost: $250

Instructor: various depending on your genre

To register for a course, email us at fvwschool@gmail.com